May 31, 2010

The news of the economic downturn must have bypassed downtown Grand Rapids as another mix-use building project and two eclectic restaurant/bar open up. And the city's residents are not complaining one bit. The city's aspiration of becoming a mini Chicago is well underway.

38 hosted it's opening party last week; giving the city dwellers a taste of cool city living within a block of the arena. The owners of one of the best beers pubs in the US, Hopcat, (okay, I am still waiting for the pub to offer San Miguel beer and more Asian beers - hint, hint) launched the retro 80's bar, Stella's Lounge and the 30's inspired, Viceroy, in the past month. And there are more great openings in the next few months.

The Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts (UICA) is finally taking shape and I could hardly wait. A very swanky wine bar is going to be opening between the Amway Grand Plaza and DeVos Performance Hall, I believe by late summer. And I've heard of rumors of another Asian restaurant downtown. Add to that the news of the year-round farmer's market complex - GR is no longer the sleepy downtown it once was.